Man accused of being gunman in plot to kill police officers found not guilty

Jury acquits Joe Frazier

A man accused of plotting to kill Milwaukee police officers will go free.

This man was facing more than 100 years in prison if convicted of three counts of conspiracy to commit intentional homicide.

He was accused of being a gunman in a plot to kill two police officers, but the jury didn't buy it, acquitting him after just three hours of deliberations.

Milwaukee's anti-gang officers last summer discovered a plot they believed was targeting two of their own officers and a rival gang member.

Joe Frazier, 21, was charged along with four other people. He was the first to stand trial.

"My client was charged with conspiracy, agreeing to kill three other human beings, including two police officers, so it was (an) extremely serious case," attorney Thomas Erickson said.

According to the criminal complaint, Frazier was supposed to be the gunman, but after a three-day trial, Frazier's attorney convinced a jury Frazier wasn't guilty.

"It's not a crime for someone to tell you to kill somebody. You have to actually do something. And the state didn't have any proof that he did anything or any proof that he ever agreed to do it," Erickson said.

WISN 12 News asked the District Attorney's Office for comment. Chief Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said because there are still other defendants in the same case, he can't comment on the merits other than to say "We respect the jury's verdict."

Meanwhile, Erickson said he thinks the verdict does not bode well for the state's case still pending against three other accused co-conspirators.

"The state's going to have some problems with witness credibility. There's no doubt about it. They're going to have some problems in my opinion showing that this plot was ever going to get off the ground," Erickson said.

WISN 12 News also reached out to Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, who had earlier said he expected justice to be done in this case.

He said because there are still pending trials, he didn't wish to comment.

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